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Polio this week

WHO appoints Chris Wolff as Director of Polio Eradication

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Mr Chris Wolff as Director of Polio Eradication at WHO, bringing one of the programme’s most experienced operational and strategic leaders back to the Organization at a pivotal moment for global eradication efforts. The WHO polio eradication director also serves as the Chair of the Strategy Committee for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.  With more than two decades of experience across polio eradication, immunization and global health, Chris has helped shape some of the programme’s most significant achievements – from supporting India’s successful interruption of wild poliovirus transmission and leading WHO’s global polio outbreak response and surveillance teams, to most recently advancing routine immunization, innovation and health systems strengthening at the Gates Foundation.  Starting his new position, Chris emphasized that the programme’s greatest strength remains its partnership.  “One of the greatest privileges of this role is the opportunity to work alongside governments, WHO colleagues, UNICEF, CDC, the Gates Foundation, Gavi, donors and our extraordinary friends at Rotary International, whose commitment has inspired this effort for decades. Above all, I look forward to supporting the frontline health workers and national programme teams. They are the true heroes of polio eradication.”

Helen Rees, long-time polio fighter and IHR EC chair, honoured with lifetime achievement award

Professor Helen Rees, Chair of the IHR Emergency Committee on polio eradication, was awarded the prestigious South Africa National Research Foundation (NRF) 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, the NRF’s highest honour, for her outstanding contributions to public health, not least of course to polio eradication.  More.

What polio investments can achieve beyond eradication – example Iraq

During the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, and as the first country in the region to complete polio transition, Iraq is showing how investments made for polio eradication can deliver lasting public health benefits, strengthening health system resilience, surveillance, laboratories and immunization systems.  More.

Summary of new polioviruses this week

  • Afghanistan :  three WPV1 cases and 14 WPV1-positive environmental samples
  • Central African Republic (CAR):  one cVDPV2 case
  • Chad :  one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
  • DR Congo :  three cVDPV2 cases
  • Libya :  one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
  • Nigeria :  one cVDPV3 case
  • Somalia :  one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
Country updates as of 30 September 2026

More information on the countries that have reported cases and/or environmental samples this week.

  • Three WPV1 cases were reported this week, from Kandahar, Nangarhar and Logar, with onsets of paralysis in August 2026. The total number of cases in 2026 is 35 (most recent case: 31 August 2026). The total number of cases in 2025 is 21.
  • 14 WPV1-positive environmental samples were reported this week, collected in August 2026, from Kandahar, Hilmand, Kabul, Nangarhar, Kunar and Hirat (most recent positive environmental sample: 26 August 2026).

  • One cVDPV2 case was reported this week, from Region 1, with onset of paralysis on 1 July 2026 (most recent case). There are five cases reported in 2026. There were two cases reported in 2025.
  • No cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported this week (most recent positive environmental sample:  15 July 2026).

  • No cVDPV2 case was reported this week. The number of cVDPV2 cases in 2026 is eight (most recent case:  26 July 2026). The number of cVDPV2 cases in 2025 is 33. 
  • One cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported this week, from N’Djamena, collected on 28 August 2026 (most recent positive environmental sample).
  • No cVDPV3 cases were reported this week. The number of cVDPV3 cases in 2026 is one (most recent case: 6 May 2026). The number of cVDPV3 cases in 2025 is four.

  • Three cVDPV2 cases were reported this week from Haut Lomami, Haut Katanga and Lualaba, with onsets of paralysis in July and August 2026. The number of cVDPV2 cases in 2026 is 58 (most recent case:  16 August 2026). The number of cVDPV2 cases in 2025 is seven.
  • No cVDPV2-positive environmental samples were reported this week (most recent positive environmental sample: 14 May 2026).
  • No cVDPV1 cases were reported this week. The number of cVDPV1 cases from 2025 is one (onset of paralysis: 25 June 2025).

  • One cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported this week, from Sabha, collected on 21 July 2026 (most recent positive environmental sample).

  • No cVDPV2 case was reported this week. The total number of cVDPV2 cases reported in 2026 is 36 (most recent case:  21 August 2026). The total number of cVDPV2 cases reported in 2025 is 66. 
  • No cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported this week (most recent positive environmental sample:  22 July 2026).
  • One cVDPV3 case was reported this week, from Borno, with onset of paralysis on 2 September 2026 (most recent cVDPV3 case). The total number of cVDPV3 cases in 2026 is twelve. The total number of cVDPV3 cases in 2025 is eight.
  • No cVDPV3-positive environmental samples were reported this week (most recent positive environmental sample: 16 July 2026).

  • No cVDPV2 cases were reported this week (most recent case: 22 June 2026). There are six cases reported in 2026. Two cases were reported in 2025. 
  • One cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported this week, from Banadir, collected on 24 August 2026 (most recent positive environmental sample).